LAHORE: Lahore air quality remained ‘hazardous’ for the 12th consecutive day on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 810, retaining its title of the world most populated city.
According to a report by IQAir, which tracks real-time data of air quality worldwide, the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore reached 810 at 8:30pm morning, making it the top-ranked city on the list of the most polluted city globally followed by Delhi with AQI 649.
Multan, however, with an AQI of 812 had the first worst reading in the country followed by the Lahore and then Rawalpindi with an AQI 275.
Yesterday, Lahore had recorded the worst AQI 1155 of this year.
At the same time, the concentration of PM2.5 pollutants—fine particulate matter that poses significant health risks—was recorded at 481 micrograms per cubic meter in Lahore, which is over 96.2 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.
Lahore, home to more than 14 million people, constantly ranked as the world most populated city.
An AQI below 50 is considered good ‘moderate’ between ’51 and 100′, ‘unhealthy for sensitive group’ at ‘101 and 150’, ‘unhealthy’ at ‘151-200’, very unhealthy at 201-300, 301 and above is ‘hazardous’.
According to this year’s life quality index Institute report, compiled by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, the people of Lahore have could their lives shortened by 7.5 years due to the poor air they breathe.
To control the smog crisis, the Punjab government also has closed schools and closed public places including parks, zoos, playgrounds, joy/play lands, historical places, monuments, and museums in smog-hit districts including Lahore.
Yesterday, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has described smog as a serious threat and said that it is likely to cause 250,000 premature deaths.
It should be noted that the situation of smog in the capitals of Punjab, Lahore, and Multan, is particularly disturbing. The provincial capital has been the most polluted city in the world for many days.
